Escape and feeding mechanism for fasteners



Nov. 29, 1966 A. P. MAZURKIVICH 3,288,331

ESCAPE AND FEEDING MECHANISM FOR FASTENERS Filed Sept. 16, 1965 UnitedStates Patent 3,23%,331 ESCAPE AND FEEDTNG MEHANISM FOR FASTENERSAnthony 1. Mazurkivich, Waterbury, Conn., assignor to Scot iiiManufacturing @ompany, Waterbury, Comm,

a corporation of Connecticut Fiied Sept. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 487,786Claims. (Cl. 221-238) This invention relates to a machine for feeding aplurality of fastener elements from a single source of supply to aplurality of setting stations.

One object of this invention is to provide an escapement and transfermechanism that will pick up a plurality of fastener elements from asingle chute and feed them to a transfer station from which they aretransferred individually to a plurality of fastener setting stations.

Another object is to provide an escapement mechanism in which the feedslide is provided with a series of pick-up pockets that movetransversely past the delivery end of a chute and which is capable ofpicking up the elements from said chute during its movement in eitherdirection across the discharge end thereof.

Other objects and advantages will be evident from the followingdescription considered together with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a plural element feeding unit embodying thebasic principles of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the guide rail of themachine, taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view at the element pick-up station of the machine on alarger scale;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the transfer section of themachine, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 on a larger scale at the point oftransfer;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of that portion of the guide railwhere it intercepts the feed chute, on a larger scale;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the transfer slide as itappears from the underside; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one of the types of fastener elementsthat may be handled by this invention.

This invention is designed to pick up a plurality of snap fastenerelements S from a single chute, and feed them individually and properlyoriented to a gang of setting stations. The machine here shown isdesigned to feed snap fasteners of the envelope type such as shown inFIG. 8, wherein prongs P are struck out of the flange F for the purposeof securing the fastener by itself to a support member without the needof some other attaching device. However, it is to be understood that themachine, with slight alterations, can be used to feed other types ofsnap fasteners of conventional construction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the machine consists of a guide rail 11)providing a channel 11 within which is slidably operated a feed slide12. This feed slide may be operated by a reversible air cylinder 13attached to the outer end of said slide through a bracket 14. Attachedto one side of the guide rail at an intermediate section, is a hopperchute 15 formed with a T-shaped channel 16 through which the fastenerelements S may be fed from a hopper (not shown) directly into said guidechannel 11.

From FIG. 6, it will be noted that the chute 15 intercepts the guiderail 1d at about a 30 angle from whence it may be arced upwardly into avertical position and joined into a hopper of conventional constructionlocated thereabove and through which the elements are fed by gravitydownwardly through the channel 16.

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The manner by which a plural number of elements S are individuallypicked up from the single chute 15 is best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6.The feed slide 12 is provided with a series of pick-up slots or pockets17 that function to pick up the elements S as the slide 12 is moved pastthe discharge end of the chute 15. As noted from FIG. 6, the base 17a ofeach slot 17 is positioned on a plane common with the discharge end ofthe T-shaped channel 16 for the purpose of forcing the individualfastener elements from the chute 15 into their respective slots 17 bythe force of the remaining elements moving down the channel 16 throughsaid chute 15.

A desirable feature of this invention is the assurance that the fastenerelements will be fed into the pick-up slots 17 in either direction ofthe movement of the feed slide 12 past the discharge end of the chute15. Normally, the elements will be fed individually into the slots 17 assaid slide 12 is moved to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 and if perchance,a failure should occur in not depositing a fastener element into everypick-up slot 17 as the slide moves to the left, then a secondopportunity is afforded to make sure that each slot is charged with afastener element as the slide 12 is moved to the right past thedischarge portion of the chute. For this purpose, it will be noted fromFIG. 3, that the partitions 1%, which divide and separate the pick-upslots 17, are preferably cut back along the edges that face the chute asindicated at 170. Also, the space defined by the side edges of slot 17and the distance between the sidewalls of channel 11 is such that thebase or flange F of the fastener elements being fed will substantiallyfill this area. Consequently, the rim of the element flange P willproject slightly beyond the edge of of partitions 17, and when saidelements are deposited within their respective slots, they will act as acutoff for the remaining elements in the channel 16 as the slide 12moves past the discharge end of the chute 15. The remaining upper faceof the slide 12 is also cut back as indicated at 12a, and this surfacethen acts as the cutoff for the remaining elements in the chute 15 asthat porton of the slide passes the discharge end of said chute.

After the feed slide 12 is charged with the fastener elements in itsmovement to the left, the air cylinder 13 will be reversed, moving saidslide to the right to a transfer station as defined by a pair of guideplates 18 and 19 attached to and extending in opposite directions fromthe guide rail 10. The guide plate 18 which more specifically may beconsidered a support guide plate, is provided with a series of grooves211 in which are guided a like number of ribs 21 projecting downwardlyfrom a pusher plate 22 slidable along the top surface of said supportguide plate. The pusher plate 22 may be actuated by an air cylinder 23having its plunger rod connected to. a bracket 24 suitably attached tothe upper rear end of a plate 22.

The opposite guide plate 19, which may be considered a transfer guideplate, is similar to plate 18 and likewise is formed with a series ofgrooves 25 that align with the grooves 20 of plate 18. Specifically, theadjacent ends of the support and transfer guide plates are fitted intosuitable cut-out slots 1&1 and 19a provided in the opposite walls thatdefine channel 11 of rail 11 and are made secure to said rail as byscrews 34. The base surfaces of the grooves 20 and 25 will, of course,be on a common plane with the base surfaces of the pick-up slots 17 infeed slide 12.

The grooves 25 are the means by which the elements S are transferredfrom the pockets 17 of the slide 12 to a plurality of setting stationsas defined by a gang of anvil members 26 and a like number of settingdies 27 descending from above. The anvil members 26 are suitably mountedin a common support block 28 located below and adjacent the free end ofthe transfer guide plate 19. From FIG. 1, it will be noted that the freeend of the transfer plate 19 extends slightly beyond the anvil members26, and the bases of the grooves 25 are provided with arcuate cut-outs29 to clear the anvil members 26, and are substantially on a commonplane with the upper surfaces of said anvils.

As noted from FIGS. 1 and 5, the forward end of the pusher plate 22 isspecially-shaped to accommodate the particular shape of the fastenerelements being fed. For the type of fastener shown in this case, theplate 22 is formed with a projecting lip 30 that is spaced a sufficientdistance above the base of the groove 25 to clear the tips of the prongsP of the fastener elements S. (Note the dotted position of the pusherplate 22 in FIG. 5.) Underneath the lip 30, the forward end of each rib21 is formed with a shoulder 31 having an arcuate cut-out 32 forreceiving and pushing against the prongs P during the transferoperation. Also, a clearance recess 33 is cut into each of the ribs 21to accommodate the flange F of the elements S. The purpose of theprojecting lip 30 is to extend over the top of the major portion of thefastener elements to prevent said elements from jumping out or beingdislodged from the guide grooves 25 in transfer plate 19, if perchance,the fastener elements should encounter any obstruction during thetransfer operation.

OPERATION In the operation of this mechanism, when the feed slide 12 ismoved to the left by the action of the air cylinder 13, the pockets 17in said slide will each be charged with an individual fastener element Sas said pockets move sequentially past the discharge end of the chute15, such as shown in FIG. 1, which is the limit of the slide pickupstroke. Next, the air cylinder 13 will be reversed and the feed slide 12will be moved to the right to a position where the pockets 17 will bealigned with grooves 20 and in the support and transfer guide plates 18and 19, respectively.

Next, when the setting stations are ready to receive the fastenerelements, the air cylinder 23 will be actuated and cause the pusherplate 22 to move across the guide rail 10 and feed slide 12, whereuponthe elements in the pockets 17 will be engaged by the ribs 21 and forcedalong the plate grooves 25 to a point where they are positioned inalignment with the anvil members 26 and setting dies 27. The aircylinder 23 will next be reversed, returning the pusher plate to startposition after which the element-feed cycle must be repeated.

From the above, it will be observed that I have devised a very simpleand economical mechanism for feeding a plurality of fastener elementsfrom a single hopper chute in a properly oriented manner to a pluralityof setting stations.

What I claim is:

1. A fastener feeding mechanism for distributing fastener elements froma single source of supply to a plurality of setting stations, saidmechanism comprising a gravity fed chute having a discharge end and saidchute adapted to receive and guide a row of fastener elements from asingle hopper, a guide rail positioned normal to and extending laterallyacross the discharge end of said chute, a feed slide member slidable insaid rail and having a series of element-receiving pockets thereinadapted to pick up individual elements as the slide is moved past thedischarge end of said chute, the opposite side of said guide rail beingintercepted by a series of grooves spaced according to the position ofthe pockets in said feed slide and laterally spaced from the dischargeend, said series of grooves leading from said guide rail to the settingstations, and a transfer plate movable across said guide rail, saidplate having depending ribs slidable in said grooves and serving to movethe fastener elements out of said receiving pockets through said groovesto said setting stations.

2. A fastener feeding mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein thetransfer plate has a projecting lip extending beyond the forward end ofsaid ribs and serving to overlie said fastener elements as they arebeing moved through said guide means.

3. A fastener feeding mechanism for distributing fastener elements froma single source to a plurality of setting stations, said mechanismcomprising a gravity-fed chute having a discharge end, said chuteadapted to receive and guide a row of fastener elements from a singlehopper, a guide rail positioned normal to and extending laterally acrossthe discharge end of said chute and having an upper opening channeltherein, a feed slide slidable in said channel and having a series ofpockets therein adapted to pick up elements individually as the slide ismoved past the discharge end of said chute, said guide rail having aseries of cross slots or grooves intercepting said channel laterallyspaced from the discharge end and spaced according to the position ofsaid pockets in said feed slide, guide means leading from said crossslots to said setting station, and means movable through said crossslots in said guide means for transferring the elements singular- 1yfrom said slide pockets to said setting stations.

4. A fastener feeding mechanism as set forth in claim 3, wherein thepockets in said slide are defined by cross partitions having relievedportions on their edges adjacent the chute discharge end and whereinsaid relieved portions and fastener elements previously fed into saidpockets act as a cut-off for the elements in said chute when the slideis moved to its discharge position.

5. A fastener feeding mechanism for distributing fastener elements froma single source to a plurality of setting stations, said mechanismcomprising a gravity-fed chute having a discharge end and said chuteadapted to receive and guide a row of fastener elements from a singlehopper, a guide rail positioned normal to and extending laterally acrossthe discharge end of said chute, a feed slide slidable in said rail andhaving a series of pockets therein adapted to pick up elementsindividually as the slide is moved past the discharge end of said chutein either direction, said guide rail at a distance removed from saidchute having a series of cross slots therein spaced according to thepositions of pockets in said feed slide, and means for moving saidindividual elements out of said pockets to the setting stations of themachine.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,486,461 11/1949Bousquet 221-93 X 2,828,888 4/1958 Nicolle 22l-68 X 2,866,561 12/1958Groves 221264 X 3,193,136 7/1965 Stumpf et al 221225 X SAMUEL F.COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

1. A FASTENER FEEDING MECHANISM FOR DISTRIBUTING FASTENER ELEMENTS FROMA SINGLE SOURCE OF SUPPLY TO A PLURALITY OF SETTING STATIONS, SAIDMECHANISM COMPRISING A GRAVITY FED CHUTE HAVING A DISCHARGE END AND SAIDCHUTE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND GUIDE A ROW OF FASTENER ELEMENTS FROM ASINGLE HOPPER, A GUIDE RAIL POSITIONED NORMAL TO AND EXTENDING LATERALLYACROSS THE DISCHARGE END OF SAID CHUTE, A FEED SLIDE MEMBER SLIDABLE INSAID RAIL AND HAVING A SERIES OF ELEMENT-RECEIVING POCKETS THEREINADAPTED TO PICK UP INDIVIDUAL ELEMENTS AS THE SLIDE IS MOVED PAST THEDISCHARGE END OF SAID CHUTE, THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID GUIDE RAIL BEINGINTERCEPTED BY A SERIES OF GROOVES SPACED ACCORDING TO THE POSITION OFTHE POCKETS IN SAID FEED SLIDE AND LATERALLY SPACED FROM THE DISCHARGEEND, SAID SERIES OF GROOVES LEADING FROM SAID GUIDE RAIL TO THE SETTINGSTATIONS, AND TRANSFER PLATE MOVABLE ACROSS SAID GUIDE RAIL, SAID PLATEHAVING DEPENDING RIBS SLIDABLE IN SAID GROOVES AND SERVING TO MOVE THEFASTENER ELEMENTS OUT OF SAID RECEIVING POCKETS THROUGH SAID GROOVES TOSAID SETTING STATIONS.